Education

SAYFC was formed back in 1938 and today has approximately 3,500 members throughout Scotland via 78 affiliated clubs. They provide a crucial network for young people isolated by geographical location and the nature of their career. Competitions are a key element of their success and they provide many personal development opportunities available to members including developing leadership skills.

For a number of years Grosvenor Estate has provided development opportunities to many individuals across their rural estates. Ranging from apprenticeships for joinery and building services to trainee gamekeeping roles, the Reay Forest Estate supports between three and four trainees per year, including student gamekeepers and a trainee mechanic. With a strategy which keeps valuable skills and knowledge within the organisation, they have ensured that scarce and heritage skills are not lost.

Formed in January 1813, Border Union Agricultural Society are responsible for the unique Schools Countryside Day event. Running since 2013, it has now seen over 5,500 ten-year-old children experience the event. The day encompasses rural skills past, present and future, encouraging knowledge of the agricultural industry, rural affairs and the environment amongst the general public.

Founded in 2010 by artist and art lecturer Ewan Duncan and his wife Claudia, art4you Scotland started as evening art classes but, with a demand for rural art classes, has now grown into a popular business welcoming 110 customer to the studio for 13 classes every week. With a mission statement of becoming a better artist, feeding your soul and enjoying the process, TripAdvisior has granted art4you Scotland a fiver-star Certificate of Excellence 2016.

Established in 1995, North Lands Creative Glass (NLCG) is the only open access glass facility in Scotland for people and groups to achieve their potential through glass. With 2,500 students visiting each year, NLCG play an important role in the cultural, social and economic landscape in Caithness – employing five full-time and six part-time members of staff. Their aim is to be the catalyst for positive, lasting change in people’s lives.

Pisces Learning Innovations is an education consultancy established in December 2013 with the primary aim of supporting workforce development within the water and land industries. They have widened access to vocational education training through the designs and development of blended learning. They aim to further expand collaborative activities on an international scale with a strong emphasis on supporting aquaculture.

Peebles CAN is a not-for-profit community-based organisation that works towards building local capacity and resilience. They focus on preparing young people for the world of work, a problem in rural areas like the Borders. Learning opportunities range from retail and banking to cooking and gardening. The project has led 25 young people to achieving a positive destination, either at college or with employment.

Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management course have been run at North Highland College UHI (NHC UHI) for over 25 years and are now widely recognised as the access route into the profession. An average of 60 students undertake classes they deliver each year, with NHC UHI currently working with organisations including Cairngorm National Park, as well as private sporting estates to highlight positive aspects of the field. They are also developing and an exchange programme with Hedmark Univesity in Evenstad, Norway.

Nick Nairn Cook School was set up in April 2000 with one very simple aim: to get more people cooking by giving people the skills necessary to be able to turn great raw ingredients into great food. Offering course in both Port of Menteith and Aberdeen, the school has taught over 58,000 students in its 16 years. They have been voted in the top 5 cookery schools in the UK in the British Cookery School Awards.

Steven Burgess Furniture & Interiors is possibly one of the only furniture and interior businesses in Scotland who can offer creative bespoke design and a manufacturing services – from concept to completion – all under one roof. Steven’s father, Jake Burgess, trains the company’s ambitious apprentices in the traditional methods of cabinet making with hand tools rather than mechanised tools – skills most apprentices would never have the opportunity to receive in the 21st century. The company has developed an extensive planned training programme spanning a four year period, utilising both traditional and modern cabinet making skills.